ETIQUETTE AT JANE AUSTEN’ TIME

1. ETIQUETTE AT JANE AUSTEN’ TIME

2. MARRIAGE SOCIETY EDUCATION GOOD MANNERS

3. Do you play and sing, Miss Bennet?’ ‘A little.’ ‘Do your sisters play and sing?’ ‘One of them does.’ ‘Why did not you all learn? You ought all to have learned. The Miss Webbs all play, and their father has not so good an income as yours. Do you draw?’ ‘No, not at all.’ ‘What, none of you?’ ‘Not one.’ ‘That is very strange. But I suppose you had no opportunity. Your mother should have taken you to town every spring for the benefit of masters.’ ‘My mother would have had no objection, but my father hates London.’ ‘Has your governess left you?’ ‘We never had any governess.’ ‘No governess! How was that possible? Five daughters brought up at home without a governess! I never heard of such a thing. Your mother must have been quite a slave to your education.’ Elizabeth could hardly help smiling as she assured her that had not been the case. [Lady Catherine and Elizabeth Pride & Prejudice, Chapter VI of Volume II (Chap. 29)] ETIQUETTE Girls must have a different education from the male one. They are supposed to take care both of the house and the family. They have the chance to study art and music but they are not allowed to have literary knowledge because it might distract them from becoming good wives.

4. Lizzy In spite of her politeness and well-attitude in the society she wasn’t as traditional as Jane. In fact she was really interested in culture as she was used to spending time alone, reading books instead of improving her skills in singing, painting and playing instruments. Jane She was brought up following the strict traditional rules of the etiquette of her time. This is the reason why she became a very polite woman. Lydia She wanted neither to be as learned as Lizzy nor to follow the etiquette becoming a good woman and wife. She was only interested in frivolities.

5. Are any of your younger sisters out, Miss Bennet?’ ‘Yes, ma’am, all.’ ‘All! What, all five out at once? Very odd! And you only the second. The younger ones out before the elder ones are married! Your younger sisters must be very young?’ ‘Yes, my youngest is not sixteen. Perhaps SHE is full young to be much in company. But really, ma’am, I think it would be very hard upon younger sisters, that they should not have their share of society and amusement, because the elder may not have the means or inclination to marry early. The last-born has as good a right to the pleasures of youth at the first. And to be kept back on SUCH a motive! I think it would not be very likely to promote sisterly affection or delicacy of mind.’ [Lady Cathering and Elizabeth] ETIQUETTE Younger sisters weren’t accepted in the society until their eldest one got married.

6. LIZZY She thought that it was unfair to deprive younger sisters of the amusement/pleasure they could find in court balls only because the eldest one hadn’t got married yet. Jane She didn’t express any opinion about this argument because she didn’t want to rebel against her mother’s will. Lydia She didn’t agree with the etiquette, because she wanted to be introduced to society as soon as possible, in order to get married soon.

7. His sense of her inferiority—of its being a degradation—of the family obstacles which had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on with a warmth which seemed due to the consequence he was wounding, but was very unlikely to recommend his suit. [Mr. Darcy Pride & Prejudice, Chapter XI of Volume II (Chap. 34)] ETIQUETTE Thanks to marriage people aimed both to assure a future offspring and to improve the economical and social position of the family. It was not a love relationship but a contractual union. Moreover many marriages were between members of the same lineage so that the assets wouldn’t be waste.

8. LIZZY She didn’t respect the traditional etiquette in fact she refused Mr Collins’s proposal. She wanted to get married to a man she was really in love with. JANE Jane really loved Bingley, that’s the reason why she wanted to get married to him, she didn’t care about his fortune. LYDIA She was a source of scandal for her family because of her marriage of convenience. She wanted to get married, the person she was going to get married to wasn’t so important. She flattered herself that Wickham really loved her. But in the reality he was interested in getting money.

9. Good manners Elizabeth was disgusted, and even Miss Bennet was shocked. Lydia was Lydia still; untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, and fearless. [Narrator Pride & Prejudice, Chapter IX of Volume III (Chap. 51)] though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.’ ‘I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good-humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving HER the preference.’ […] ‘they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.’ [Mr. and Ms. Bennet of Elizabeth Volume 1, ch. 1] ETIQUETTE A noblewoman must be pleasant, good-mannered and rich in decorum. Moreover she must be knightly towards herself and the others.

10. LIZZY She was able to respect all the features of a good noblewoman but in some occasions she became proud, arrogant and insolent. This side of her character often appeared during her discussions with Mr Darcy, who had a very strong character too. JANE She was the personification of the perfect noblewoman, that followed literally the etiquette. She was also discreet, benevolent and compliant. The only negative side of her character was her naivety because she always thought that people were good and generous. LYDIA She was a very frivolous and superficial person, only interested in the dances, men and social life in general. She is the opposite of her sister Jane. Cristina P. Valeria R. Alice Z.